A quick look around the campus of Agoura High School can give the impression that cell phones are one of the most in demand pieces of technology among students. They are used for entertainment, communication, and even help with homework. However, cell phone use can come with some downsides. For example, distraction in the classroom.
The topic was discussed at two LVUSD school board meetings in August of 2024, where the board debated how to balance the rights of students to bring a cell phone to school with the need to provide a learning environment free from distraction.
As of July 2024, although 12 states have passed laws or enacted policies to ban or restrict cell phone use on campus, no state has completely banned students from bringing their phone to school.
Yet it’s not hard to see why cell phones can be very distracting in a classroom. Between the notifications, the easy access, and the constant temptation to respond to messages from other students or parents, it can easily divert a student’s attention away from lessons.
After much discussion, the board decided to leave the district’s current cell phone policy in place. There are different rules for different age groups. The K-8 policy is that phones and smartwatches must be kept in a backpack all day. In high school, phones are only allowed to be used during nutrition and lunch.
Garret Lepisto, the principal of Agoura High School, describes the policy as an “off and away” policy. In an email to students and parents on August 14th, 2024, he says, “They should be off and away during instructional time, however they may be used during nutrition, passing period, and lunch.” He also wants parents to take action too. In the same email, he asks, “Please help us by having a conversation with your high school student to remind them that mobile devices are not to be utilized during instructional time.”
These statements are backed up by the Agoura High Student Handbook, where the cell phone policy is stated.
So how is this policy being enforced? According to the minutes of the meeting of August 13, 2024, “Students violating this policy may have their phones confiscated and returned at the end of the day. School officials will meet with parents after the student receives a second infraction. A third infraction will lead to disciplinary action.”
Even though this policy has been set, teachers do have discretion over the use of cell phones in the classroom. For example, Ms. Kim Varonin, a science teacher at Agoura High School, explained in the minutes of the August 27th meeting that “Some assignments require pictures to be taken which cannot be accomplished on a computer due to bad quality as well as the inability to carry around a computer to take pictures. We use cell phones for data collection, document data, and apps like iNaturalist.” Ms. Julia Carrillo, a teacher at Lindero Canyon Middle School, states that she “cannot teach [my] content without the use of cell phones or another device.”
These policies are not set in stone, though that might change in the future. The August 27, 2024 board meeting Newsflash states “The current policies will stand in place for now until more research is completed.”
